About

Character Design with Silver, A Drawing Guide Book

$114,139

pledged of $10,500 goal

1,701

backers

The Silver Way: Techniques, Tips, and Tutorials for Effective Character Design

THANK YOU ALL!!!! Because of your support, I have reached 100% of my goal and can without any hesitation say that this book is GETTING PRINTED!!!
Because of this and your continued support, I will be able to expedite the books to you, my Kickstarter backer, in December. For any orders after the campaign is over on October 15th those will have to be pre-ordered and will be available in February or March.

This 192 page "how-to" book is packed with my personal approach to Character Design, Drawing, and Exercises for personal improvement.
The Silver Way: Techniques, Tips, and Tutorials for Effective Character Design. Foreword by Mike Krahulik/Penny Arcade

A brief bio

My name is Stephen Silver, and I am a character designer and teacher. I have designed characters for Disney Television Animation, Sony Feature Animation, Nickelodeon Animation, and many more - establishing the style of shows such as Kim Possible, Danny Phantom, and Kevin Smith's Clerks, the Animated Series.

My purpose and passion in life is teaching. I have taught and lectured at schools and companies all over the world. I currently teach online at Schoolism.com, and at SilverDrawingAcademy.com in Simi Valley, California. I am proud to say that many of my students have gone on to work for companies like DreamWorks, Pixar, Disney, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, Warner Bros., and a variety of other studios.

What is this book about?

When I was six years old, I found an artist’s sketchbook laying in my back yard, and that book changed my life. It inspired me to draw things I did not understand quite yet and to practice all the time. It is for this purpose that I want to create a book that I feel will help shape another artist’s life.

Having been asked for many years by students, designers, and teachers for a "how-to" book, I decided it was time for me to create one. It’s based on all of my notes and theories for designing and drawing that I have gained over the last 26 years of my professional career.

Whether you are working in animation, video games, comics, or any form of media, a character designer’s job is to invent, and convey a concept from a description. The goal of this book is to provide aspiring character designers and artists interested in this field, with a better understanding of the character design process. Most importantly, it will provide the tools needed to produce effective characters.

My techniques and tutorials will help you build your confidence and strengthen your knowledge of the art of character design - allowing you to successfully design for any project, in any style. In this book, I am sharing all of the knowledge I have developed through my years of experience as an artist in the entertainment industry. This is the book I have dreamed of for years, and the book I wish I had 26 years ago. It will not disappoint.

"Good character design needs to illustrate the character. Posture, expression, even clothing should all communicate what the character is all about. The best characters immediately look like they do what it is they do. Your Character Design class has been a big inspiration to our art direction, and we would highly recommend this book to every aspiring artist."- Sanguine Productions

Why do a Kickstarter?

I have chosen to do a Kickstarter because I wanted to create something exclusive for my supporters, and felt this was the best way to do it. For this specific book, I'm happy to say all the image files and preliminary text have officially been submitted to Design Studio Press, my publisher, and is currently in the final stages of development. Printing can get expensive, and as the creator, I am in collaboration with the publisher and am responsible for my printing costs.

With support from you, I can physically make it happen, making it available to artists worldwide who wish to learn my design process. I will also be able to create an exclusive limited hardcover edition, and with your support, be able to release this book sooner than later. This platform is great because I am able to create additional rewards that would not be possible to offer in other venues. It is my hope that the stars will align in order to make this all a reality.

I am often asked what I feel has been my greatest success in my career. In all honesty, I believe the knowledge I have acquired and will be able to share in this book will be my greatest success. It is special, unique, and sums up all of my tips and techniques for helping artists self-correct their work. I will be sharing new tools and theories that have never been in print, along with exercises I have personally developed - all of this will help you better understand the power of observation from life, in order to create your own unique voice, and the studio production way of designing.

I am grateful to you, and thank you for your belief and support. Cheers! Stephen Silver

music provided by: Opus One by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Artist: http://audionautix.com/

Risks and challenges

I am proud to say that my book is in the final editing and layout phase. I have finished all the artwork. I've been putting this book together over the past 5 years, I am not rushing to throw elements in. This book is well thought out and almost ready to go to print. I have full control over additional rewards and inventory. I am confident in saying, I'm super excited about this.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $28 or more
About $28

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL_Signed Softcover

EARLY BIRD- Thank you for helping me get started with my Kickstarter launch. 192 page softcover book signed. This book will not be signed through regular distribution channels-it's just for my supporters. Also the book will be delivered to you before it is available through regular distribution.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $45 or more
About $45

Signed Softcover with additional pages

192 page softcover book signed. Regular price If the Early Bird Special is Sold Out. Books will not be signed through regular distribution channels-it's just for my supporters.
7 additional pages not featured within the book will be given in a separate PDF and emailed to you.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $60 or more
About $60

Signed Hardcover with additional pages

192 page signed hardcover edition exclusive to my supporters. 7 additional pages not featured within the book will be given in a separate PDF emailed to you. No additional hardcovers will ever be printed once the campaign is finished.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $80 or more
About $80

INTERNATIONAL SPECIAL

International special includes:
Signed 192 page signed hardcover edition.
Additional 7 pages not featured within the book will be given in a separate PDF emailed to you.
Shipping anywhere in the world included.
No additional hardcovers will ever be printed once the campaign is finished.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $90 or more
About $90

Three item special

192 page signed hardcover and softcover edition exclusive to my supporters. 7 additional pages not featured within the book will be given in a separate PDF emailed to you. No additional hardcovers will ever be printed once the campaign is finished.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $110 or more
About $110

International: 2 book hardcover

INTERNATIONAL ONLY:
The 2 book special cuts down the shipping costs
includes two 192 page hardcover books signed.
7 additional pages not featured within the book will be given in a separate PDF and emailed to you.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $190 or more
About $190

Hardcover with original sketch page

192 page hardcover book that I will use in a daily drawing session either from a coffee shop or while I watch tv and fill up the front page of the book with original sketches. Each book will be one of a kind. 1 of 1.

Includes:
Signed hardcover edition.
original sketch page
7 additional pages not featured within the book will be given in a separate PDF and emailed to you.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $210 or more
About $210

International: 4 book Hardcover

INTERNATIONAL ONLY:
The 4 book special cuts down the shipping costs
includes four 192 page Hardcover books signed.
7 additional pages not featured within the book will be given in a separate PDF and emailed to you.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $800 or more
About $800

Online Character Design Course

You will be one of my limited students in my online character design course on Schoolism where you will get personal feedback from me each week for 9 weeks. $1075 total value.
http://www.schoolism.com/instructors.php?id=8

INCLUDES:
Hardcover edition
9 week course
7 additional pages not featured within the book will be given in a separate PDF and emailed to you.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $850 or more
About $850

Live class at Silver Drawing Academy

Be 1 of 5 students accepted into my 8 week live class in Simi Valley, CA. We meet on Wednesdays for three hours in the morning or evening. Students are responsible for their own living accommodations and transportation. International students are responsible for their own visas/passports. $1070 value.

INCLUDES:
Hardcover edition.
8 week live class in Simi Valley, CA
7 additional pages not featured within the book will be given in a separate PDF and emailed to you.
http://www.silvertoons.com/studio-mentorship

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $4,500 or more
About $4,500

5 hour workshop

This reward is for a five hour workshop anywhere in the USA for your school or studio. The pledge amount covers all travel expenses, flight, accommodation, food and workshop. Dates will be arranged. $5500 value
http://www.silvertoons.com/workshops

INCLUDES:
includes 5 signed hardcover books
books delivered at time of event